Another ‘Son of Concorde’ jet completes key tests in race to slash London to Sydney flight time to just 10 HOURS
A SUPERSONIC aircraft dubbed the “Son of Concorde” has finished all three key trials ahead of its first planned flight later this year.
NASA are one stop closer to their goal of simplifying long distance travel with the super speedy X59 jet which doesn’t create sonic boom.
It is hoped to hit nearly 1,000mph – which would mean a flight from London to Sydney would take just 10 hours, less than half of what is does now.
The plane claims to be much quieter than its predecessor Concorde – which ceased flying because it was so loud, but still travels faster than the speed of sound.
But the experimental plane is under a lot of scrutiny before it gets the green light to fly passengers across the globe.
The quiet supersonic aircraft has undergone three rigorous structural tests ahead of its first real journey this year.
It’s the first of its kind to fly for NASA’s Questt mission in collaboration with Lockheed Martin which aims to revolutionise commercial air travel.
The X59 jet comes with a unique structure so engineers need to bear its narrow tapered shape in mind while testing.
Walt Silva, the structures lead for the X59 told Aerospace Testing International: “The testing not only tells us how structurally sound the aircraft is, but also what kind of forces it can take once it is in the air.
“You do these tests, you get the data, and things compare well in some areas and in other areas you want to improve them.
“So, you figure that all out and then you work towards making it better.”
In early 2024, the X59 was subject to structural coupling tests where a computer moved its control surfaces including its ailerons, flaps and rudder.
The first test took place in 2022 and engineers conducted a proof test to make sure the X59 would absorb the forces it will experience during flight.
X59 jet key fact
- 925 miles per hour or 1.4 times the speed of sound
- Cruises at 55,000ft
- Loudness of 75 PLdB (as loud as a car door closing)
- 29ft and 6in wide
- 99’7in in length
- 14ft tall
The second test in 2023, saw engineers apply shakers to several plane parts to test its response to vibration.
The supersonic jet was successfully fitted with an ejection seat that passed inspection, earlier this year.
Now that all three key tests are out of the way, the plane is one step closer to its first flight.
It’s not exactly clear when the first proper journey will take place but the plane was revealed in January 2024.
But before this can happen, NASA engineers must complete taxi tests to validate ground mobility.
Natalie Spivey, aerospace engineer at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center said: “There’s lots of anticipation, but we’re ready to get there and see how the aircraft responds in the air.”
It’s hoped the X-59 will fly at a whopping 925 miles per hour – 1.4 times the speed of sound.
Manufacturers claim it’s only as loud as a car door closing – 75 PlDb.
The streamlined jet is 29ft and 6in wide, 99’7in in length and 14ft tall.
They claim the jet can get you from London to just NYC in just 1.5 hours, even faster than the Boom’s XB-1 supersonic which takes 3.5 hours for the same journey.
Commercial supersonic flight over land has been banned in the US for more than 50 years, and about 20 years in the UK, because of the noise of sonic booms.
As such, there have been no commercial aircrafts even capable of hypersonic or supersonic flight since the Concorde, whose last flight was in 2003.
However, with manufacturers like Nasa and Lockheed actively developing new supersonic aircraft, the UK’s aerospace watchdog has said it will review the ban.